DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the related titles...but I do own all of the books, movies, a couple action figures...some cards...a bracelet...a necklace -rambles on-

A/N: Well, since I'm starting to get more reviews, my updates will be more frequent. This is not a very long chapter at all...so if I'm feeling nice I might update very very soon. Possibly even later today. The story is started to twist some more, complicating relationships a bit. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 9: Unwelcomed Surprises

Charles came home a few days before Christmas. He sneaked into Maddy's room in the middle of the night, and crawled up in the bed next to her. He stroked the side of her face gently. Her eyes opened slowly.

"Charles?"

He smiled and kissed her. "It's me…I'm home…"

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On Christmas Day, Charles decided to throw a party. He wanted to make an important announcement. Everyone seemed to be there, and everyone was having a wonderful time.

"Maddy!" Maria Penly, Charles's younger sister, raced up to hug her.

Maddy had met Maria at the wedding and they immediately hit it off. Maria was 23, so she wasn't much too younger than Maddy.

"You look so good! Oh! It's so good to see you!"

Maddy smiled, "It's great to see you, too!"

Maria looked around at the guests, "Great turnout. I mean, there are so many people here…"

Maddy nodded, "Yes, I didn't even know Charles had invited this many people…"

Maria laughed, "Charlie'll surprise you sometimes…"

Maddy nodded in agreement. Maria looked around the room again. Her eyes fell on someone standing near the tree.

"Hey…hey, who's that?" she said, nodding in the direction of the person she was indicating. "I remember seeing him at the wedding, but I didn't know who he was…"

Maddy could see Harry standing by the tree, talking to Hermione. Ginny was standing next to him, looking like she's just been plucked off the Christmas Tree. Fred Weasley, (or it might have been George…) was standing next to Hermione. He had agreed to come to the party with her so she wouldn't have to be alone.

"That's Harry Potter…"

Maria looked up at Maddy, "The Harry Potter?"

Maddy nodded, still staring at Harry. Maria gaped at him, wordlessly. For a split second, Maddy could have sworn he looked at her.

"Everyone! Everyone! I have an announcement to make!" Charles's voice rang out over the crowd. "Well…my wife and I have an announcement to make."

Maddy waved at Maria and moved toward her husband. Maria waved back and glanced back at Harry. Before Charles began talking again, Maddy signaled to Maria to check Harry's ring finger. She saw the wedding band and pouted.

"Everyone! As you all well know. About two months ago, my wife Madeleine and I were married."

The room applauded loudly. Charles smiled.

"Yes, yes…thank you. Well, a few days ago, we were informed of greater news. We are pleased to announce that there will soon be a new addition to the Penly family!"

The room exploded with applause and cheers. Maddy blushed as Charles leaned over and kissed her. There were a few wolf-calls from some of the men in the room. In the corner, she could see Ginny looking smug. Harry, on the other hand, was looking as if someone had shot him through the heart.

No…no…Maddy couldn't be pregnant…oh, God…

The party continued on, at a slightly louder pitch. Maddy and Charles received several congratulations from everyone at the party. Maria had run over to Maddy and planted a great big kiss on her cheek. Even Ginny had dragged the others over to congratulate the couple. Hermione shook Charles's hand energetically.

"I'm Hermione Weasley. We never got to formally meet at the wedding."

"Ah yes," Charles said, recognizing her, "Yes, you went to school with Maddy, did you not?"

Hermione nodded. Charles looked at Fred.

"Is this your husband?"

Ginny choked on her drink, and Harry laughed. Fred looked slightly embarrassed, as he shook his head.

"No, I'm her brother-in-law…Fred Weasley…"

At this point, Maddy was certain of which twin had accompanied Hermione to the party. For a while, she wasn't quite sure. Charles shook Fred's hand and turned to Harry and Ginny.

"Harry ol' boy!" he said, shaking Harry's hand. "So wonderful of you to come. And Miss Ginerva, you look stunning this evening, I must say…"

Maddy suddenly knew how Mrs. Wormwood had felt at their dinner party ages ago. She did not appreciate all the attention he was giving Ginny every time they met up with her.

Harry smiled forcefully, "It's wonderful to hear about your new baby. You two must be very happy…"

Maddy opened her mouth to reply, when Charles cut her off; "Yes, we are all very happy. Very happy indeed! Maddy was overcome with joy when she found out…poor girl passed out…"

Maddy turned bright pink. She had hoped he wouldn't mention that she had passed out. Harry looked at her, but Maddy cleared her throat and shook her head quickly.

"It was nothing, really. I was rather shocked though. I didn't expect to be pregnant…so soon…" Maddy knew no one was listening to her.

"We're very happy for you two…" Ginny said. Her smile was almost too happy. "Have you decided on a name yet?"

"Good Heavens, no! It is much to early for that…" he shook his head, "No, no…but in time, perhaps…"

"Maddy's always loved the name Elizabeth…" Harry blurted out, his eyes still locked onto Maddy.

Maddy glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Charles looked at Harry, confused.

"How did you-"

"I mentioned it, once…at the party…to Ginny, right Ginny?" Maddy said, quickly. She was hoping Ginny would back her up on this one. She highly doubted it though.

"Mentioned what? I don't remember you saying anything…" Ginny said innocently.

Maddy cursed her under her breath. Charles looked from Harry to Maddy, and back to Harry. He had no clue what was going on.

"I told Harry!" Hermione said, hastily.

Everyone looked at her. Hermione nodded nervously.

"That's right. Maddy used to tell me that when we were in school, and one day, I mentioned it to him, when he brought up the subject of children…"

Harry nodded in agreement, "That's right! I remember that!"

Maddy caught on, "Oh, yes, it was Hermione I told. I knew it was someone who had connections to Harry. Sorry, Ginny, I could have sworn it was you. I guess my memory is failing me. Old age settles in quick…and you know what they say about British women…"

"What do they say about British women?" Hermione and Ginny said, both looking at Maddy slightly affronted.

"Uh…" Maddy forgot that she was British. She had heard the line once in a movie, and thought it was funny at the time. And she had just been rambling on like there was no tomorrow, that she had no idea what she was saying.

"Can I have everyone's attention?" a voice called out over the room.

Maddy breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone had turned to the source of the voice. Brendan, Charles's older brother, was standing on a chair, with a wineglass held high in his left hand. A microphone, (unneeded, of course. Brendan had a rather loud, obnoxious voice) was clutched in his right.

"I would like to make a toast, to my brother." He waved the glass in Charles's direction, "And his beautiful wife…" this time to Maddy. "The new baby…" there was scattered applause. "And of course, to the great party that they have thrown on this Christmas Day!"

Charles laughed and made a comment on how much of a joker his brother was. Maddy was not exactly pleased when Brendan decided to join their group. He slid his arm around his younger brother, his face turning red from the wine.

"Charlie, look at this…you a dad…I never would have expected it of you…" Brendan's face was slightly pink. "What, with all your traveling…you still travel don't you?"

Charles nodded, "Yes…I am actually leaving for the States this weekend. I have a very important meeting to be at in Chicago…"

Maddy turned to her husband. He had not told her of this trip. "You can't possibly think of leaving at a time like this!"

Charles looked embarrassed. "Maddy, darling, this is not the time to discuss it."

"I think it's a perfect time to discuss it! You just find out your wife is pregnant, and you're ready to fly off to the U.S. without even bothering to tell her first? What? You expected me to wake up to an empty bed again and think 'Oh Gee, look at that, Charles is gone again, I think I'll take a little nap, and then have tea around eleven…'?"

Charles was trying to quiet her down, but Maddy would not be silenced. Maddy was furious with him at the moment, and wasn't afraid of causing a scene. She was almost hoping one would occur. Maybe if he was publicly humiliated, he would have some sense knocked into him, and he wouldn't leave so often. Harry braced himself for the explosion about to take place, and almost felt sorry for Charles. He knew what it was like to be face to face with an angry Maddy.

"No, Charles! I will not deal with this anymore! I can't take it! I will not go through this pregnancy alone! I won't!"

"You won't have to…Darling, please be quiet…Darling, it's only for a few days…"

"A few days?! Only for a few days?! What happens then? You'll come home, say 'I love you, Darling' and then it's off Japan? You are a Duke, Charles! What could they possibly need you for in the United States? You are a British gentleman!"

Hermione finally shut her up with a Silencing Charm. She did not want to bring herself to do it, but Charles was looking desperate. Maddy glared in Hermione's direction as she was dragged out of the room.

"Darling, listen to me…I know you can't talk…so just stand there and listen. I will be back as soon as I can. It is very important business. When I get the chance, I will explain it to you, but right now, I have to keep going on these trips. I will come home every chance I get to be with you and the baby. No matter what. I promise you that. Hold me to it…"

Maddy narrowed her eyes, and glared at him. He always said this, but it never seemed to be true. Having grown tired of the party, she stormed up the stairs without bothering to have Hermione take the curse off her.

A/N: Temper, temper, temper. Lol. Maddy has a lot of random outbursts so, just kinda get used to it. She's a rather angry person to be completely honest. You will see that a lot in here and, for those of you following both, in I Dated the Chosen One. Please REVIEW! (Cause remember, reviews get me to update faster!) Anyways, see you all later!